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The good news is that it’s possible to significantly increase your body’s resistance to bruising with dietary supplements and to alleviate the symptoms with topical herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies.

What Is a Bruise?

Simply stated, bruising is a normal response to localized damage to the tiny blood vessels known as capillaries, resulting in leakage of a small amount of blood into the tissue. Color changes occur as the body absorbs the blood, providing the array of bluish, greenish, brownish colors associated with bruises.

Helpful Supplements

One way to remedy the situation is to make sure that the capillaries are strong and flexible. A flexible capillary is more likely to bend rather than to break when an impact occurs. Vitamin C is required for flexible capillaries and to prevent bruising. C is necessary for the formation of the protein collagen, which provides structural integrity to capillaries and other tissues, helping to prevent bruising. If you don’t consume adequate vitamin C, then this is reflected in the integrity of blood vessels. Gums tend to bleed easily around the teeth (especially when brushing), and blotchy bruises are common. Vitamin C supplementation has been shown to reduce bruising in people with low vitamin C levels.

Flavonoids are healing substances found in plants. Like vitamin C, flavonoids help strengthen capillaries and may also relieve bruising. In one small German trial, people with a chronic bruising disorder were given 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 100 mg of the flavonoid rutoside on a daily basis. Noticeable bruising was no longer apparent after four weeks and did not recur for three months after the supplementation. Shari Lieberman, PhD, CNS, FACN, recommends 1,000 mg or more of a bioflavonoid complex containing the flavonoids rutin and hesperidin for bruising and other circulatory disorders.

It’s wise to take flavonoids and vitamin C as a combination product (a time-released product containing 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 500 mg or more of bioflavonoids).

Tried-and-True Homeopathy

A homeopathic preparation of the botanical Arnica montana is an excellent homeopathic remedy for traumatic injuries including bruising, sprains and strains, and bruise-like soreness after muscular exertion in sports activities. In addition, arnica can be used after a workout to relieve muscle aches. According to remedies editorial advisor and homeopathic expert Dana Ullman, MPH, Arnica “has been dubbed the ‘homeopath’s aspirin’ for its effectiveness in preventing and treating sore muscles after workouts.” The recommended dose is 6th, 12th, or 30th potency taken every hour or less as needed.

Topical Applications

In addition to the internal use of vitamin C, flavonoids, and homeopathic Arnica, you can also apply certain herbal preparations topically, or externally.

Arnica can also be used topically to treat bruising as an herbal preparation. To use it topically (herbal arnica should never be used internally), look for arnica ointment, which should contain about 15 percent arnica oil.

Found in many homes in a distilled form, witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an herb with a well-deserved reputation for the treatment of bruising, in addition to inflamed swellings. In its distilled form, witch hazel can be applied directly to the affected area.

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Labels: arnica, bruises, flavonoids, natural health, natural therapy, Vitamin C, witch hazel